The NBA Draft is the one time of the year where fans of every single NBA franchise have the opportunity to be optimistic about their team’s potential with the chance that they add some major talent either via draft pick or trade. There were a number of teams that got creative at this year’s NBA Draft in order to get the players they wanted while others stayed put and took the best available player on their board. Here is a look at the four biggest winners for the 2015 NBA Draft.
New York Knicks
The reaction from Knicks fans in the crowd when they selected Kristaps Porzingis with the fourth overall pick was absolutely hilarious but the reality is that despite drawing boos from the crowd he certainly has the potential to be a stud in the NBA.
Porzingis is an absolute monster with the size and shooting ability and the truth is we haven’t really seen a player with his size, shooting range and athletic ability. That will all help him excel in the triangle offense. A number of experts feel he was the best available talent on the board when New York selected him and there is no doubt that Phil Jackson’s hands were all over this pick with the vision that Porzingis can become an All-Star. The main criticism with Porzingis is that he’s more of a project than some of the other guys and that means the Knicks might not compete in 2015-16. However, Jackson doesn’t care as he’s in it to rebuild the franchise the right way, not the fast way.
The Knicks doubled down later on in the first round when they somehow managed to steal a first-round pick from the Washington Wizards for Tim Hardaway Jr. They turned that into Jerian Grant at 20th overall and he has the potential to be the future franchise point guard. Locking down two important positions of need with elite talents was an absolute coup and made New York arguably the biggest winners from the 2015 NBA Draft – even though a lot of people disagree.
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves were an obvious pick on this list of winners after they took the best and most complete player in the NBA Draft in Karl-Anthony Towns but they didn’t stop there as the team used two second-round picks to move up in to the first round to select Tyus Jones. Jones might not become an elite starting point guard but he will be a quality player that contributes off the bench at worst and that is better than anyone Minnesota would have selected in the second round. He’s an important get as he’s insurance on Ricky Rubio if he gets hurt again or he has potential to start if Rubio ends up getting traded.
The Timberwolves are the first team in NBA history with three straight No. 1 overall picks on their roster and they were winners this year when they landed the best overall player and a quality depth player with a decent ceiling in the first round.
Miami Heat
Miami wouldn’t have been considered a big winner at the NBA Draft if the Detroit Pistons or Charlotte Hornets took Justice Winslow ahead of them but after both teams missed, the Heat were able to steal him at No. 10 overall. Winslow is a complete wing with a more complete game than Stanley Johnson, who was taken by the Pistons two picks ahead of him and he has the potential to become a franchise player in Miami in the long term.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers round out our list of winners after taking the best available point guard in the draft to fill a major position of need despite pressure on them to take Jahlil Okafor with the No. 2 overall pick. Russell has the potential to become an All-Star in Los Angeles where he and Julius Randle slot in as two key players that will help lead the Lakers in to their next phase. By taking Russell, the team can now afford to avoid signing a point guard in free agency where the market is severely limited. Beyond that, Russell should extend the career of Bryant by allowing him to do less work (dribbling, passing, creating).
Los Angeles is reportedly in the mix to trade for DeMarcus Cousins or Kevin Love to address their center position and with a ton of salary cap space to address their other positions, the Lakers deserve a ton of credit for taking Russell.
